A PENSIONER is looking for more information about a medal presented to her grandfather for his heroic actions.

Brenda Hutchinson, 74, wants to find out more about a medal given to her grandfather who was a rescuer in the 1909 West Stanley Burns Pit disaster.

Mrs Hutchinson remembers her grandfather, miner John Smiles, having the small medal on his watch chain. It was then passed on to her father and she now wears it on a necklace.

However, Mrs Hutchinson has no idea of the role her grandfather played in the rescue following the explosion. The inscription on the medal bears the name J. Smiles and the name of the man who presented it, P. Joice.

She said: "I remember my grandfather having it but I don't remember he or my father ever talking about it. I don't think men really talked about such tragic things in those days. I'd really love to know more to pass on to my family."

The Northern Echo is running a campaign to mark the mass burial graves of 54 men and boys who were killed in the pit explosion, which killed 168.

Twenty-six men and boys were saved, including the legendary hero of the disaster, Mark Henderson.

Mr Henderson, whose great-niece, Wendy Haydock, lives in Eldon, near Bishop Auckland, made sure the men and boys stayed in a pocket of uncontaminated air and then moved them so rescuers could easily find them.

One of the survivors was Frank Keegan, the grandfather of former Newcastle United player and manager Kevin Keegan.

To help the appeal or to pass on information to Mrs Hutchinson, call Chris Webber on (01642) 675678